St. Paul's $1M idea winner moving forward

A rendering of the Urban Oasis, a center to promote and handle locally produced food is the winner of St. Paul's million-dollar idea contest. The St. Paul Foundation will pay $1 million to establish the center in the Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary in St. Paul. (Courtesy photo)

The winner of St. Paul's million-dollar idea contest -- a local food center called the Urban Oasis -- has a new partner.

The St. Paul Foundation, which manages the contest, has picked the Twin Cities Local Initiatives Support Corporation to oversee building the center.

The corporation is the local branch of a national nonprofit that manages and facilitates the building of public projects.

In 2013, the foundation offered $1 million in the Forever St. Paul Challenge to whoever came up with the best idea for improving the city.

Out of almost 1,000 people submitting ideas, the winner was Tracy Sides of St. Paul. She envisioned a center to promote, process and distribute local food, housed in an abandoned building in the Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary in St. Paul.

The managing corporation is expected to launch a drive soon to gather suggestions about the project from residents and organizations.